Authors:

It is well known that the viscoelastic properties of gastric
mucin are
crucial to the protection of the lining of the stomach against
its own
acidic secretions and other agents. Helicobacter Pylori, a rod
shaped,
gram-negative bacteria that dwells in the mucus layer of
approximately
50{\%} of the world's population is a class I carcinogen and is
associated
with gastric ulcers and severe gastritis. The structural damage
to the mucus
layer caused by H. Pylori is an important aspect of infection
with this
bacteria. We are examining the impact of H. Pylori on mucin and
mucus
rheology quantitatively using a combination of dynamic light
scattering and
multiple particle tracking experiments. Video microscopy data
will also be
presented on the motility of this bacteria in mucin at different
pH and in
other viscoelastic gels.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2006.MAR.B29.8